The JAXA officially shared that the SLIM was inserted into the Moon’s lunar orbit at 16:51 (Japan standard time, JST) on December 25, 2023. The Japanese Space Agency has sent a spacecraft named “SLIM” also nicknamed Moon Snipper to the moon on August 28 from Tanageshima, Tokyo.

SLIM-The Journey

Many Countries in the world have geared up the research work on the moon. In 2023 itself, India successfully sent its Chandrayaan 3 spacecraft in July to the unexplored south pole of the moon. Then Russia attempted to send its Luna-25 spacecraft to the moon but it failed. In this order, Japan decided to send a spacecraft to the moon named “Smart Lander for Lunar exploration of the Moon”(SLIM).  The Japanese Aerospace exploration Agency announced that it would send the spacecraft on July 12, 2023 but the launch was rescheduled due to bad weather.  Similarly the launch was postponed 3 times and finally JAXA made it on August 28.

Specifications of SLIM

The spacecraft is meant to study lunar rocks. When it comes to talk about its specification, the name SLIM itself portrays the lightweight nature. Accordingly, the weight of the Japanese spaceship is much less. The Vikram lander of Chandrayaan 3 mission weighed 1,752 kg along with the weight of Pragyan rover (26 kg).  But the Japanese spaceship weighs only 200 kg.  The main reason for this weight reduction is due to the reduction in the number of instruments in it. 

The SLIM spacecraft currently traveling to the moon has a total of 2 instruments for exploration.  One is a navigation camera and the other is a laser rangefinder, both designed to be lightweight yet precise.  A small radar instrument is also fitted to receive information about the spacecraft  and solar panels to generate power from sunlight. It is also made smaller with much less weight than usual.  

Its 500N ceramic motors were used to lift the orbiter.  For that there are 12 of 22 N thrusters.  With the help of this, the SLIM spacecraft went towards the moon.

Next step of SLIM

After the successful launch, SLIM now entered into the moon’s lunar orbit and is expected to go nearly 15km close to the moon on January 19, 2024 and make its landing on the moon in the midnight of January 20, 2024. 

This made Japan the fifth country to set foot on the moon